Barcelona: 5 alternatives to Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland

2. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)

The other part of Inter Milan’s dangerous strike duo, Lautaro Martinez, is admired in Barcelona. The Argentine was a top transfer target for Barcelona in previous transfer windows but the fragile financial situation restricted the club from making any advances. The former Racing Club striker was also keen to join the Blaugrana but with no offer arriving, the 23-year-old was happy to continue his rise in Italy.

Martinez has 15 league goals this term, he and Lukaku combined have scored over 50% of Inter Milan’s goals this season in the Serie A. Martinez’s current deal in Milan runs till 2023 and he was supposed to put pen on paper but he hasn’t yet signed a new deal, giving a ray of hope to Barca.

The 5’ 8’’ striker shares the national team dressing room with Lionel Messi and the two have a good friendship. Perhaps that could become one deciding factor if the Catalans eventually go for Martinez.

Lautaro is vastly different from Lukaku and that is why they together making a frightening striker duo. Martinez is someone who is ruthlessly instinctive and has surprising strength and aerial dominance despite the small stature. He relies a lot on his shooting skills and is agile enough to produce shots from areas and pockets of spaces that any other striker would struggle to. Martinez has 32 shots on target in Serie A, only behind Ronaldo and Lukaku.

The Argentine often drops deep to get into the mix and presses the opponent to catch them off guard and retain possession. Martinez records 4 pressures per 90 minutes (the number of times his side gained possession within five seconds of him pressing an opponent). (stats via FBref)

El Toro is just 23 and continues to refine himself each season. Martinez also brings the typical South American charisma on the table which Barcelona have been accustomed to when the trident of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Messi obliterated the opposition defence.